Factors Related to Sexual Risk Behavior Among Female Secondary School Students, Nakornnayok Province*

Abstract

This survey research was aimed to study the factors related to sexual risk behavior among
female secondary school students in Nakornnayok Province. The PRECEDE Framework was used to
determine the research conceptual framework. The samples consisted of 487 students who were
selected by using stratified random sampling method. The data were collected by using the
questionnaire developed by the researcher. Descriptive statistics in regard to frequency, percentage,
arithmetic mean, and standard deviation, were used to describe the studied variables and sexual risk
behaviors. The Chi-square test was employed for testing research hypotheses and for testing the
relationship between predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors and sexual risk behaviors. The
following predisposing factors were found to relate significantly with sexual risk behavior: class level,
learning achievement and values towards having sexual risk behavior and perceived negative effects
of performing sexual risk behaviors. The enabling factors were: received income/expense, access to
entertaining establishments, access to sexual stimulating media and refusal skill. The reinforcing
factors were: relationship in family and conformity with peer groups. But the predisposing factor as
regards to marital status of parents, enabling factor as regards to residency and reinforcing factor as
regards to communication of sex related information with parents were found not to relate significantly
with sexual risk behaviors. The research results can be utilized for determining strategies, control and
prevent sexual risk behaviors and premarital sexual relationship among female adolescents.